《Notes On the Whole Bible--Luke》(John Wesley)
Commentator
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.
Wesley's writing and preachings provided the seeds for both the modern Methodist movement and the Holiness movement, which encompass numerous denominations across the world. In addition, he refined Arminianism with a strong evangelical emphasis on the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith.
Wesley was a logical thinker and expressed himself clearly, concisely and forcefully in writing. His written sermons are characterised by spiritual earnestness and simplicity. They are doctrinal but not dogmatic. His Notes on the New Testament (1755) are enlightening. Both the Sermons (about 140) and the Notes are doctrinal standards. Wesley was a fluent, powerful and effective preacher. He usually preached spontaneously and briefly, though occasionally at great length.
NOTES ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE
HEREIN WE MAY OBSERVE,
I. The beginning: and therein.
1. The conception of John Chap. i, 5-25
2. The conception of Christ 26-56
3. The birth and circumcision of John; the hymn of Zacharias; the youth of John 57-80
4. Christ's birth ii, 1-20 Christ's circumcision and name 21 Presentation in the temple 22-38 Country and growth 39, 40
II. The middle, when he was twelve years old and upward 41-52
III. The course of the history.
A. The introduction, wherein are described John the Baptist; Christ's baptism, and temptation iii, iv, 1-13
B. The acceptable year in Galilee,
a. Proposed at Nazareth 14-30
b. Actually exhibited,
I. At Capernaum and near it; here we may observe,
1. Actions not censured, while Jesus
1. Teaches with authority 31, 32
2. Casts out a devil 33-37
3. Heals many sick 38-41
4. Teaches every where 42-44
5. Calls Peter; then James and John Chap. v, 1-11
6. Cleanses the leper 12-16
2. Actions censured, more and more severally, here occur,
1. The healing the paralytic 17-26
2. The calling of Levi; eating with publicans and sinners. 27-32
3. The question concerning fasting 33-39
4. The plucking the ears of corn vi, 1-5
5. The withered hand restored; snares laid 6-11
3. Actions having various effects on various persons,
1. Upon the apostles 12-16
2. Upon other hearers 17-40
3. Upon the centurion vii, 1-10
4. Upon the disciples of John,
The occasion: the young man raised 11-17
The message and answer 18-23
The reproof of them that believed not John 24-35
5. Upon Simon and the penitent sinner 36-50
6. Upon the woman who ministered to him viii, 1-3
7. Upon the people 4-18 Upon his mother and brethren 19-21
II. On the sea, and 22-26 Beyond it 27-39
III. On this side again.
1. Jairus and the flux of blood 40-55
2. The apostles sent ix, 1-6
3. Herod's doubting 7-9
4. The relation of the apostles 10
5. The earnestness of the people; our Lord's benignity; five thousand fed 11-17
C. The preparation for his passion,
a. A recapitulation of the doctrine concerning his person: his passion foretold 18-27
b. His transfiguration; the lunatic healed; his passion again foretold; humility enjoined 28-50
c. His last journey to Jerusalem, which we may divide into eighteen intervals,
1. The inhospitable Samaritans born with 51-57
2. In the way, improper followers repelled, Proper ones pressed forward 58-62
3. Afterward the seventy sent; and received again x, 1-24
And the scribe taught to love his neighbour, by the example of the good Samaritan 25-37
4. In Bethany, Mary preferred before Martha 38-42
5. In a certain place the disciples taught to pray xi, 1-13
A devil cast out, and the action defended 14-26
The acclamation of the woman corrected 27, 28
Those who desire a sign reproved 29-36
6. In a certain house, the scribes and Pharisees censured. 37-54
7. Our Lord's discourse to his disciples xii, 1-12
To one that interrupts him 13-21
To his disciples again 22-40
To Peter 41-53
To the people 54-59
8. The necessity of repentance shown xiii, 1-9
A woman healed on the Sabbath 10-21
9. The fewness of them that are saved 22-30
10. Herod termed a fox: Jerusalem reproved 31-35
11. In the Pharisee's house, he cures the dropsy on the
Sabbath; and xiv, 1-6
Teaches humility 7-11
Hoseapitality 12-14
The nature of the great supper 15-24
The necessity of self denial 25-35
12. Joy over repenting sinners defended, and xv, 1-10
Illustrated by the story of the prodigal son 11-32
The unjust steward, wise in his generation xvi, 1-13
The Pharisees reproved; and warned by the story of 14-18 the rich man and Lazarus 19-31
Cautions against scandals xvii, 1-4
The faith of the apostles increased 5-10
13. In the confines of Samaria and Galilee he heals ten lepers. 11- 19
14. Answers the question concerning the time when the kingdom of God should come 20-37
Commends constant prayer xviii, 1-8
Recommends humility by the story of the Pharisee and publican 9-14
15. Blesses little children 15-17
Answers the rich young man 18-27
And Peter, asking what he should have 28-30
16. Foretells his passion a third time 31-34
17. Near Jericho, cures a blind man 35-42
18. In Jericho, brings salvation to Zaccheus xix, 1-10 Answers touching the sudden appearance of his kingdom. 11-28
D. Transactions at Jerusalem,
a. The four first days of the great week,
1. His royal entry 29-44
2. The abuse of the temple corrected 45, 46
Its use restored, and 47, 48
Vindicated xx, 1-8
3. His discourses in the temple,
1. The parable of the husbandmen 9-19
2. The answer concerning paying tribute 20-26
And the resurrection 27-40
3. The question concerning the Son of David 41-44
4. The disciples admonished 45-47
5. The poor widow's offering commended xxi, 1-4
4. His prediction of the end of the temple, the city, and the world 5-38
5. Judas's agreement with the chief priests xxii, 1-6
b. Thursday,
1. Peter and John prepare the passover 7-13
2. The Lord's Supper: discourse after it 14-23
3. The dispute, which of them was greatest 24-30
4. Peter, and the other apostles warned 31-38
5. On the mount of Olives,
1. Jesus prays; is in an agony; strengthened by an angel; wakes his disciples 39-46
2. Is betrayed; unseasonably defended 47-53
3. Carried to the high priest's house 54
Denied by Peter 55-62
Mocked 63-65
c. Friday,
1. His passion and death: transactions,
1. In the council 66-71
2. With Pilate xxiii, 1-5
3. With Herod 6-12
4. With Pilate again 13-25
5. In the way 26-32
6. At Golgotha, where,
The crucifixion itself, and Jesus's prayer 33, 34
His garments parted 34
Scoffs: the inscription on the cross 35-39
The penitent thief 40-43
The prodigies, and the death of Jesus 44-46
The beholders of it 47-49
2. His burial 50-53
d. Friday evening and Saturday 54-56
e. His resurrection made known,
1. To the women Chap. xxiv, 1-12
2. To the two going into the country, and to Peter 13-35
3. To the other apostles 36-45
f. The instructions given his apostles: his ascension 46-53
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
I
1, 2. This short, weighty, artless, candid dedication, belongs to the Acts, as well as the Gospel of St. Luke. Many have undertaken - He does not mean St. Matthew or Mark; and St. John did not write so early. For these were eye witnesses themselves and ministers of the word.
3. To write in order - St. Luke describes in order of time; first, The Acts of Christ; his conception, birth, childhood, baptism, miracles, preaching, passion, resurrection, ascension: then, The Acts of the Apostles. But in many smaller circumstances he does not observe the order of time. Most excellent Theophilus - This was the appellation usually given to Roman governors. Theophilus (as the ancients inform us) was a person of eminent quality at Alexandria. In Acts i, 1, St. Luke does not give him that title. He was then probably a private man. After the preface St. Luke gives us the history of Christ, from his coming into the world to his ascension into heaven.
5. The course of Abia - The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, of which that of Abia was the eighth, 1 Ch xxiv, 10. Each course ministered in its turn, for seven days, from Sabbath to Sabbath. And each priest of the course or set in waiting, had his part in the temple service assigned him by lot.
6. Walking in all the moral commandments, and ceremonial ordinances, blameless - How admirable a character! May our behaviour be thus unblamable, and our obedience thus sincere and universal!
10. The people were praying without, at the time of the incense - So the pious Jews constantly did. And this was the foundation of that elegant figure, by which prayer is in Scripture so often compared to incense. Perhaps one reason of ordaining incense might be, to intimate the acceptableness of the prayer that accompanied it; as well as to remind the worshippers of that sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour, which was once to be offered to God for them, and of that incense, which is continually offered with the prayers of the saints, upon the golden altar that is before the throne, Rev. viii, 3, 4.
12. Zacharias was troubled - Although he was accustomed to converse with God, yet we see he was thrown into a great consternation, at the appearance of his angelical messenger, nature not being able to sustain the sight. Is it not then an instance of the goodness is well as of the wisdom of God, that the services, which these heavenly spirits render us, are generally invisible?
13. Thy prayer is heard - Let us observe with pleasure, that the prayers of pious worshippers come up with acceptance before God; to whom no costly perfume is so sweet, as the fragrancy of an upright heart. An answer of peace was here returned, when the case seemed to be most helpless. Let us wait patiently for the Lord, and leave to his own wisdom the time and manner wherein he will appear for us. Thou shalt call his name John - John signifies the grace or favour of Jehovah. A name well suiting the person, who was afterward so highly in favour with God, and endued with abundance of grace; and who opened a way to the most glorious dispensation of grace in the Messiah's kingdom. And so Zacharias's former prayers for a child, and the prayer which he, as the representative of the people, was probably offering at this very time, for the appearing of the Messiah, were remarkably answered in the birth of his forerunner.
15. He shall be great before the Lord - God the Father: of the Holy Ghost and the Son of God mention is made immediately after. And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink - Shall be exemplary for abstemiousness and self-denial; and so much the more filled with the Holy Ghost.
16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn - None therefore need be ashamed of "preaching like John the Baptist." To the Lord their God - To Christ.
17. He shall go before him, Christ, in the power and spirit of Elijah - With the same integrity, courage, austerity, and fervour, and the same power attending his word: to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children - To reconcile those that are at variance, to put an end to the most bitter quarrels, such as are very frequently those between the nearest relations: and the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just - And the most obstinate sinners to true wisdom, which is only found among them that are righteous before God.
18. Zacharias said, Whereby shall I know this? - In how different a spirit did the blessed virgin say, How shall this be? Zacharias disbelieved the fact: Mary had no doubt of the thing; but only inquired concerning the manner of it.
19. I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God - Seven angels thus stand before God, Rev. vii, 2; who seem the highest of all. There seems to be a remarkable gradation in the words, enhancing the guilt of Zacharias's unbelief. As if he had said, I am Gabriel, a holy angel of God: yea, one of the highest order. Not only so, but am now peculiarly sent from God; and that with a message to thee in particular. Nay, and to show thee glad tidings, such as ought to be received with the greatest joy and readiness.
20. Thou shalt be dumb - The Greek word signifies deaf, as well as dumb: and it seems plain, that he was as unable to hear, as he was to speak; for his friends were obliged to make signs to him, that he might understand them, ver. 62.
21. The people were waiting - For him to come and dismiss them (as usual) with the blessing.
24. Hid herself - She retired from company, that she might have the more leisure to rejoice and bless God for his wonderful mercy.
25. He looked upon me to take away my reproach - Barrenness was a great reproach among the Jews. Because fruitfulness was promised to the righteous.
26. In the sixth month - After Elisabeth had conceived.